Bombay HC chides rlys over deaths

Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Wednesday chided the railways over the death of a woman who fell from an overcrowded local between Dombivli and Kopar stations. It directed the railways to take steps to avoid overcrowding during peak hours.
“Is there anywhere in the world facing such disasters like we are?’’ asked a bench of Justices Naresh Patil and Girish Kulkarni in the context of people falling from trains and into the gap between the footboard and platform.The court heard a PIL on problems of senior citizens accessing locals but took note of accidents.
The bench suggested that the police be posted outside coaches, mainly near foot-over bridges during peak hours. They said there was a tendency for people to board coaches closer to FoBs, resulting in overcrowding. “Let us go to the root of the problem,’’ said Justice Kulkarni, adding that the police can be posted for two hours each in the morning and evening. “If you want to take care of commuters, you must take preventive steps,’’ said Justice Patil. The judges said the problem was with commuters too but the railways must act as a deterrent. “It will solve majority of the problem. Nobody wants to get involved in police complications,’’ said Justice Kulkarni.
The judges questioned the progress for raising the height of platforms. “The platform issue is being discussed for almost three years,” said Justice Kulkarni. The railways’ advocate, Suresh Kumar, said work was on, with emphasis on low platforms. “Give priority to crowded stations instead of going in a row,’’ said Justice Patil.
The judges asked what the railways was doing to prevent crossing of tracks. “Make it difficult for them to cross,’’ said Justice Patil. When Kumar said iron barricades were put up, including between tracks, the bench said the railways must consider barbed wires too. “You should be one step ahead,’’ said Justice Patil. The bench rapped the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), showing a picture of garbage outside Wadala station. “Corporation, are you listening? What will a person entering Mumbai think? It is the commercial capital of India?’’ said Justice Patil.
Adjourning the hearing, the judges said steps must be taken to keep hawkers away.
‘Have better system to alert train guard’
Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Wednesday told the railways to consider a one-way communication system in women’s compartments to alert the guard in case of an emergency.
A bench of Justices Naresh Patil and Girish Kulkarni referred to Monday’s incident, where a drug addict sexually harassed a commuter in a moving train. “Since last eight years, incidents are taking place. Very unfortunate,’’ said Justice Patil. The court heard a clutch of PILs on women’s safety. The judges expressed anguish and Justice Patil said, “Somebody is misbehaving with a women. She is helpless.’’
The judges said there must be a speaker system in the compartments connected to the guard, instead of a chain, which may not be effective. “A woman can’t be expected to take out her mobile phone and dial a number. At least her cries will be heard by the administration,’’ said Justice Patil. The judges said the railways were changing seating arrangements. “This is also important,’’ he said.
Senior advocate Rajiv Chavan, appearing for the petitioner, Help Mumbai Foundation, drew the court’s attention to the poor quality of closed-circuit television cameras on platforms. He said the cameras are of 1.3 mega pixel resolution. “Even ordinary mobile phones have better resolution. Every time there is an incident, they are not able to see the face of the culprit,’’ Chavan added.
To the court’s query, Central Railway’s advocate, T J Pandian, said a committee will look into the feasibility of installing live CCTVs cameras in women’s compartments. He said the court will be informed after the committee submits its report. The bench also directed the railways to improve the resolution of CCTV cameras on platforms.